Transition Attack: 5 Out Transition

Marty Gross, after 46 years of coaching college basketball, enters the next chapter in his basketball journey.Gross spent the 2022-2023 season coaching at Missouri State University, helping the Bears to a 17-15 overall record.Before the Bears, Gross spent 10 years at Texas A&M Corpus Christi in addition to a short 5-month stint at the University of St. Thomas on the women’s side. Texas A&M Corpus Christi enjoyed one of its most successful seasons ever in 2015-16, rolling up 25 wins and advancing to the Southland Conference Championship game for the first time, and making three straight postseason appearances.Gross spent 10 years at TAMUCC, four years at Wichita State, seventeen years at Rice University, nine years at Jacksonville University (Fla.), and four years at Birmingham Southern College (Ala.).At Wichita State, Gross was instrumental in helping the Shockers win the 2011 NIT Championship with wins over a Klay Thompson-led Washington State team in the semi-finals and Alabama in the finals.Gross began his collegiate coaching career at Birmingham-Southern College upon graduating from Jacksonville in 1977. During his four years in Birmingham, the Panthers were 103-27, captured three-consecutive Southern States Conference championships, competed in two national tournaments, and achieved a national ranking as high as second in the NAIA polls.In addition to Birmingham Southern College, Gross also coached at his alma mater, Jacksonville University (FL). His first stint at Jacksonville was from 1981 to 1983. Gross then returned to Jacksonville in 1985 and spent the next seven years at the campus, including three seasons as the school’s associate head coach.Gross has been instrumental in helping cultivate the careers of 60 pros, including 14 from Texas A&M Corpus Christi, 13 from Wichita State University, 21 from Rice, eight from Jacksonville, and two from Birmingham Southern College.While at Jacksonville, Gross teamed with former JU/Rutgers/New Jersey Nets coach and current television analyst Bob Wenzel, helping nurture the careers of six Dolphins selected in the NBA draft. Some of the more notable players include 1986 second-round pick (Denver) and former Orlando Magic general manager and current NBA consultant Otis Smith, 1987 first-round pick Ronnie Murphy (Portland), 1990 first-round selection and NBA Slam Dunk Champion Dee Brown (Boston) and 1992 second-round pick Tim Burroughs (Minnesota). In 1985-86, the Dolphins were 21-10, won the Sun Belt Conference Championship, and made an appearance in the NCAA tournament. In 1986-87, the Dolphins were 19-11 and received an NIT postseason bid.At Rice, Gross coordinated recruiting and was involved extensively in all areas of the day-to-day operations of the men¹s basketball program, including fund-raising, player development, community outreach, scouting, and a daily practice focus on team defense. He also helped develop 21 Owls to the professional ranks, including NBA players Morris Almond (2007 First Round Utah Jazz), Mike Harris (Houston Rockets, Utah Jazz), Mike Wilkes (Orlando, Memphis, Milwaukee, Houston, San Antonio, Seattle), and Brent Scott (Indiana Pacers).A native of Yankton, South Dakota, Gross was an all-state basketball player as a senior at Yankton Senior High School in 1973. He is a member of the Yankton Senior High School Hall of Fame and the National Association of Basketball Coaches. Gross also attends St. Mark’s Episcopal Church and has been active in Athletes in Action and Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches.Gross is married to Mary Pat Nelson, a native of Beaumont, Texas. The couple resides in Houston, Texas. In addition to “Transition Attack: 5 Out Transition”, Gross’ first book project was “A Systematic Approach to Teaching Post Play” also on Amazon and coachmartygross.org. Read more